Gas vs
Gas vs. Electric Dryer - Which is Better? (Pros & Cons)
Shopping for a new washer and dryer can be overwhelming. For starters, if your current pair is broken you may be doing laundry by hand or at a laundromat.
Don't let desperation get the best of you. Make sure you choose the correct dryer for your home to avoid costly and timely ordering mistakes.
In this article, we'll teach you how to identify what type of dryer you currently have (it may not be as apparent as you think), while also covering the efficiency and cost differences** between electric and gas dryers.
What type of dryer do I currently have?
The biggest mistake customers make when ordering a new dryer is selecting the incorrect fuel source for their laundry room. Don't assume anything! Some homes may have a gas stove and gas hot water heater, but the previous homeowner never switched the dryer from electric to gas.
How to check for if I have an electric dryer
Electric dryers require a high voltage (240 Volt) outlet. This is typically a dedicated circuit that runs from your electrical panel to your laundry room.
Method 1 - Figure out your current model number and Google it.
This is the most surefire way to be sure of what type of dryer you have. If you can't find your model number, move on to method 2.
Method 2 - Check to see what type of outlet the dryer is plugged into
If you have an electric dryer, there will be a funky looking outlet in your laundry room or closet. Sometimes it can be hard to see what the dryer is plugged into, especially with a stacked laundry setup. However, if you can see the outlet any you have either of the following, you have an electric dryer.
The three prong was the standard prior to 2000. For new construction homes 2000 onward, the standard is four prong. Make sure you let your appliance sales person know what type of outlet you have so the installation crews are prepared ahead of time.
Method 2 - Check your electric panel
Ok, so you couldn't see your outlet. No problem! If you know where your electrical panel is, open it up and see if you can find a breaker labeled "dryer." Since electric dryers usually require 30 amps, if you see a double slot breaker with the number "30" (standing for 30 amps) or higher on the breaker, that means you have an electric dryer.
How to check for if I have a gas dryer
Typically it's hard to see if you have a gas dryer. The gas line is usually at the floor level, so it can be hard to see behind your dryer.
Method 1 - Check your model number and Google it
Method 2 - If you can, look behind your dryer to see if there is a gas line connected to a shut-off valve.
We don't blame you for being confused.
One of the most common mistakes custom
Which is Better? Upfront Cost
When shopping for a new dryer, you'll notice that all dryers have a gas and electric version. With all things being equal, a gas dryer will usually be about $100 more expensive than the same dryer in electric.
Can I convert my current dryer from one to the other?
No! You cannot convert a dryer from one type to the other. The heating system is entirely different in each.
Winner: Electric Dryers
Efficiency
Generally speaking, gas is a more efficient fuel source for generating heat that electricity.
With electric energy, a power plant somewhere hundreds of miles away from you is turning heat (likely from burning fossil fuels) into electric current. That current then needs to travel all the way to your home. During that traveling, some energy is lost due to resistance in the wires. When the electricity arrives at your home, your dryer needs to covert the electric power back into heat, which also creates some loss. Overall this is not the ideal method of generated heat.
Gas, on the other hand, is a more preferred heat source. Gas is combusted and instantly turns into heat inside the gas dryers burner, so there isn't much energy lost in the system.
But which is better for the environment?
It all depends on how your power is being generated. If you have solar panels, obviously electric energy will be more environmentally friendly than gas. However, if you are getting your electricity from a run of the mill power plant (not from a wind or solar farm), then gas will be more environmentally friendly.
Winner: Gas Dryers
Which is cheaper to operate?
For drying similarly sized laundry loads, gas is cheaper than electric.
Gas dryers run hotter than electric dryers, which reduces drying time and costs over time.
For a typical family that dryers 5 loads of laundry per week, the average electric dryer will cost, on average, $130 per year while the same dryer in gas would cost about $85 per year to operate. That's about a $40 a year savings for gas dryers.
That means that a gas dryer will generally compensate for the higher upfront price tag by around 1 to 2.5 years of use, depending on how frequently it's being used.
If you are building a new home and deciding whether to run an electric or gas line to your laundry room, we recommend gas. However, it doesn't make sense to switch from a pre-existing electric line to gas since the cost to run a new line can be anywhere from $250 to $1,000 and that in combination with the higher upfront cost of a gas dryer will make it hard to re-coop your investment.
Winner: Gas Dryers
Which Drys Quicker?
A gas dryer will heat up more quickly than an electric dryer, thanks to the efficiency of combustion mentioned before. Gas dryers are also capable of getting hotter than electric dryers. For these reasons, gas dryer cycle times are shorter than electric dryers.
In our busy lives, we all could use more time, and gas dryers help you achieve just that.
Winner: Gas Dryers
Conclusion
While gas dryers do cost more upfront, they are almost always the better choice.
They are more efficient, better on the environment, and cost less to run per load.
You will also be able to run more loads in less time thanks to their quick drying cycles.
However, if you currently have an electric dryer but do have access to natural gas, only make the switch if you wash 5 or more loads of laundry per week, and you plan to be in your home 5 or more years. Otherwise, the cost savings don't add up.
#ChoosingAWasherDryer
Shopping for a new washer and dryer can be overwhelming. For starters, if your current pair is broken you may be doing laundry by hand or at a laundromat.
Don't let desperation get the best of you. Make sure you choose the correct dryer for your home to avoid costly and timely ordering mistakes.
In this article, we'll teach you how to identify what type of dryer you currently have (it may not be as apparent as you think), while also covering the efficiency and cost differences** between electric and gas dryers.
What type of dryer do I currently have?
The biggest mistake customers make when ordering a new dryer is selecting the incorrect fuel source for their laundry room. Don't assume anything! Some homes may have a gas stove and gas hot water heater, but the previous homeowner never switched the dryer from electric to gas.
How to check for if I have an electric dryer
Electric dryers require a high voltage (240 Volt) outlet. This is typically a dedicated circuit that runs from your electrical panel to your laundry room.
Method 1 - Figure out your current model number and Google it.
This is the most surefire way to be sure of what type of dryer you have. If you can't find your model number, move on to method 2.
Method 2 - Check to see what type of outlet the dryer is plugged into
If you have an electric dryer, there will be a funky looking outlet in your laundry room or closet. Sometimes it can be hard to see what the dryer is plugged into, especially with a stacked laundry setup. However, if you can see the outlet any you have either of the following, you have an electric dryer.
The three prong was the standard prior to 2000. For new construction homes 2000 onward, the standard is four prong. Make sure you let your appliance sales person know what type of outlet you have so the installation crews are prepared ahead of time.
Method 2 - Check your electric panel
Ok, so you couldn't see your outlet. No problem! If you know where your electrical panel is, open it up and see if you can find a breaker labeled "dryer." Since electric dryers usually require 30 amps, if you see a double slot breaker with the number "30" (standing for 30 amps) or higher on the breaker, that means you have an electric dryer.
How to check for if I have a gas dryer
Typically it's hard to see if you have a gas dryer. The gas line is usually at the floor level, so it can be hard to see behind your dryer.
Method 1 - Check your model number and Google it
Method 2 - If you can, look behind your dryer to see if there is a gas line connected to a shut-off valve.
We don't blame you for being confused.
One of the most common mistakes custom
Which is Better? Upfront Cost
When shopping for a new dryer, you'll notice that all dryers have a gas and electric version. With all things being equal, a gas dryer will usually be about $100 more expensive than the same dryer in electric.
Can I convert my current dryer from one to the other?
No! You cannot convert a dryer from one type to the other. The heating system is entirely different in each.
Winner: Electric Dryers
Efficiency
Generally speaking, gas is a more efficient fuel source for generating heat that electricity.
With electric energy, a power plant somewhere hundreds of miles away from you is turning heat (likely from burning fossil fuels) into electric current. That current then needs to travel all the way to your home. During that traveling, some energy is lost due to resistance in the wires. When the electricity arrives at your home, your dryer needs to covert the electric power back into heat, which also creates some loss. Overall this is not the ideal method of generated heat.
Gas, on the other hand, is a more preferred heat source. Gas is combusted and instantly turns into heat inside the gas dryers burner, so there isn't much energy lost in the system.
But which is better for the environment?
It all depends on how your power is being generated. If you have solar panels, obviously electric energy will be more environmentally friendly than gas. However, if you are getting your electricity from a run of the mill power plant (not from a wind or solar farm), then gas will be more environmentally friendly.
Winner: Gas Dryers
Which is cheaper to operate?
For drying similarly sized laundry loads, gas is cheaper than electric.
Gas dryers run hotter than electric dryers, which reduces drying time and costs over time.
For a typical family that dryers 5 loads of laundry per week, the average electric dryer will cost, on average, $130 per year while the same dryer in gas would cost about $85 per year to operate. That's about a $40 a year savings for gas dryers.
That means that a gas dryer will generally compensate for the higher upfront price tag by around 1 to 2.5 years of use, depending on how frequently it's being used.
If you are building a new home and deciding whether to run an electric or gas line to your laundry room, we recommend gas. However, it doesn't make sense to switch from a pre-existing electric line to gas since the cost to run a new line can be anywhere from $250 to $1,000 and that in combination with the higher upfront cost of a gas dryer will make it hard to re-coop your investment.
Winner: Gas Dryers
Which Drys Quicker?
A gas dryer will heat up more quickly than an electric dryer, thanks to the efficiency of combustion mentioned before. Gas dryers are also capable of getting hotter than electric dryers. For these reasons, gas dryer cycle times are shorter than electric dryers.
In our busy lives, we all could use more time, and gas dryers help you achieve just that.
Winner: Gas Dryers
Conclusion
While gas dryers do cost more upfront, they are almost always the better choice.
They are more efficient, better on the environment, and cost less to run per load.
You will also be able to run more loads in less time thanks to their quick drying cycles.
However, if you currently have an electric dryer but do have access to natural gas, only make the switch if you wash 5 or more loads of laundry per week, and you plan to be in your home 5 or more years. Otherwise, the cost savings don't add up.
#ChoosingAWasherDryer